Westside Preservation Invitational winners announced

Westside Elementary School students were among the top winners in the 23rd annual “Preserve Our Past” art and essay invitational sponsored by the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program, an agency of the Department of Arkansas Heritage.

Joseph Marshall Park won first place in the fifth-and-sixth grade art division for a drawing of the Arkansas County Museum at Arkansas Post. Allison Evans took second place for a drawing of the old jail in Ozark and Nathan McLendon won third place for a drawing of the Old Hempstead County Courthouse.

Fifth and sixth grade essay division winners were Dooley C. Huff who took second place for writing about the Pea Ridge Battlefield and Haden Ray who received third place for his essay on Little Rock Central High. Winning honorable mention in the fifth and sixth grade essay division were Georgia Harrell, who wrote about Hot Springs, and Lauren Drawbaugh, who wrote about the Old Mill in North Little Rock.

Ashley Ruano won honorable mention in the fifth and sixth grade art division for a drawing of the Bridge over King’s River. The contest was held as part of Arkansas Heritage Month 2014 activities.

First, second and third place winners in each division will receive a trophy, honorable mention recipients will get a ribbon and all students who entered will receive a certificate. The contest teaches students about local and state history and fosters an interest in preserving historic places. Winning entries and honorable mention entries will be displayed at the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center in Little Rock throughout May, which is Arkansas Heritage Month. Images of the winning works can be viewed on the AHPP education webpage at www.arkansaspreservation.com.